PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Big 5 is proud to announce the Hall of Fame Class of 2024, which will be recognized at the Big 5 Classics for both men's and women's basketball on Friday, December 6 at Villanova's Finneran Pavilion (women) and Saturday, December 7 at the Wells Fargo Center (men). This year's class is comprised of University of Pennsylvania men's standout Ira Bowman as well as La Salle's Dr. John Giannini, Temple's LaKeisha Eaddy, Amy Facer of Saint Joseph's, Villanova's Courtney Mix, and Mike Jensen of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
 
Click here for tickets to the women's Big 5 Classic!
 
Click here for tickets to the men's Big 5 Classic!
 
LA SALLE
Dr. John Giannini, Head Coach (2004-18)
John Giannini led the Explorers for 14 seasons (2004-18), compiling 212 wins during his time at 20th & Olney, second only to Big 5 Hall of Famer Speedy Morris. Giannini is best remembered for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons. In 2012, he led La Salle to 21 wins and a berth in the NIT, the school's first postseason appearance since 1991-92. In 2013, Giannini coached the Explorers to an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament where La Salle defeated Boise State, Kansas State, and Ole Miss to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1955. The Explorers also shared the Big 5 title in 2012-13, with Temple.
 
PENN
Ira Bowman (1994-96)
Ira Bowman played two years at Penn, the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons, after transferring from Providence College. His first year with the Quakers, Penn went 22-6 overall and 14-0 in Ivy League play en route to its third straight Ancient Eight title. Bowman was second-team All-Ivy that season. As a senior, Bowman was the Ivy League Player of the Year and first-team All-Philadelphia Big 5 as he led the Quakers to a 17-10 record that included a 12-2 mark in Ivy play. Penn tied Princeton that year for the conference title but fell to the Tigers in a one-game playoff to determine the Ivy's NCAA Tournament bid. Following his Penn career, Bowman enjoyed a professional playing career that included stints with the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers and Atlanta Hawks. He also played overseas, in Italy and Australia, as well as in the Continental Basketball Association. Bowman is currently in his sixth year as an assistant at Auburn University following six years as an assistant coach at Penn.
 
TEMPLE
LaKeisha Eaddy (2006-10)
LaKeisha Eaddy helped to lead Owls to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances and an overall record of 92-40 over four seasons. She was a three-time All-Big 5 Selection (2x First Team, 1x Second Team), the 2007 Big 5 Rookie of the Year, and a three-time All-Atlantic 10 Defensive Team honoree. Eaddy finished her Temple career as the program's all-time leader in steals and second in assists, and 15 years later she still ranks second and third in those categories. She was also a two-time All-Atlantic 10 selection and A-10 All-Rookie Team pick who scored 1,144 points to rank in the top 20 on Temple's all-time scoring list.
 
SAINT JOSEPH'S
Amy Facer (1993-97)
Amy Facer led the Hawks to remarkable team success, as SJU advanced to the postseason in each of Facer's four seasons including three trips to the NCAA Tournament (1994, 1995, 1997).  In addition, St. Joe's captured three Philadelphia Big 5 titles as well as the program's first Atlantic 10 Championship, in 1997.  As a senior, Facer helped SJU set a school record by posting a 26-5 regular-season record that included a 15-1 mark in the A-10. Individually, Facer was a two-time All-Atlantic 10 selection, garnering Third Team honors in 1995 and Second Team accolades in 1997.  Furthermore, the two-time A-10 All-Championship team choice was named All-Big 5 three times—including First Team honors in 1997—and finished her career with 1,138 points. After graduating from Hawk Hill, Facer spent 11 years playing professionally in Europe and the Middle East including stints in Denmark, Hungary, Romania, Spain, Sweden and Israel.
 
VILLANOVA
Courtney Mix (2000-04)
Throughout her Villanova career from 2000-04, Courtney Mix established herself as one of the most versatile performers in the history of Villanova women's basketball. From a team standpoint, she helped lead the Wildcats to four consecutive NCAA Tournament berths including an Elite Eight appearance, a Big East Tournament championship, four-straight 20-win seasons, and a four-year record of 93-33. Mix finished her illustrious Villanova career ranking 23rd all-time in scoring (1,071 points), fourth in rebounding (869 rebounds), and sixth in assists (457). She also registered 209 career steals which is still eighth all-time at Villanova. She will also be remembered as one of the top defensive players to ever play women's basketball on the Main Line. As a team captain during her senior season in 2003-04, Mix led the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (5:1). For her efforts that season, she earned second-team All-Big East honors and first-team All-Big 5 distinction. In addition, Mix won the Big East Conference Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award and the Sister Mary Margaret Cribben Award which is given to the Villanova student-athlete who unselfishly sacrifices time, effort, body and soul to lead and motivate her teammates in excelling for Villanova athletes through inspiration.
 
MEDIA
Mike Jensen, Philadelphia Inquirer (1988-2023)
Mike Jensen covered Philadelphia basketball and the Big 5 for more than three decades with the Philadelphia Inquirer. He won the USBWA Jim O'Connell Award in 2024 for excellence in beat writing, and his 2017 Year of Philly Hoops series spanned 55 parts with 2,000 words appearing every Sunday in the Inquirer. Jensen retired from the Inquirer in 2023 and is now writing a book on Philadelphia basketball. He served as the beat writer for Temple, Villanova and Penn for a combined 25 years, and won first place Eclipse Awards in 2004 and 2006 for horse racing coverage. Jensen also covered soccer from 1989-02.
 
For the latest on Penn men's basketball, follow @PennMBB on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, and on the web at PennAthletics.com.